Dalaga

/dəˈlɑːɡə/ noun

Definition

A young unmarried woman or maiden in Indonesian and Malay cultures.

Etymology

From Malay dalaga or Indonesian dara, meaning girl or young woman. The term reflects Southeast Asian cultural terminology for unmarried females and carries social significance in traditional contexts.

Kelly Says

This word represents how different cultures mark life stages differently—English just says 'girl' or 'woman,' but Malay languages have specific terms for the social role and status of being unmarried, which tells us about what mattered to those societies.

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